The phone rang a few times, the silence stretching out like a taut string, until the call connected from the other end and a pleasant male voice greeted her with a "Hello~".
However, Lily froze, her mind going blank for a moment as the voice washed over her like a chill down her spine. It was the same voice that echoed in her mind at least once a day, sending a shiver through her. Before she could question whether she was imagining things, she heard the voice again from the phone, "Hello~" This time, the voice carried an expectation, like he was waiting for some kind of reaction, his tone laced with a hint of curiosity.
Eli was on his way out of the city for a meeting with a secret organisation founded by the army, the one he'd got a message about early that morning to attend and which took several days to return back again. As he drove, his phone, connected to the car's speaker system, buzzed to life. He glanced at the dashboard screen to check the caller ID. A glimpse of the number sent a jolt through him, and Eli instinctively swerved the car to the side of the road, tyres screeching on the asphalt. It was the call from his grandfather's saviour's number, the same number he'd called relentlessly earlier. If he was lucky, the caller might be the one person he'd been longing to hear from, his beloved. He took a deep breath, composed himself, and answered, "Hello~"
He waited for a response but he didn't get one from the other end even after a minute, so he called again, his voice laced with expectation, "Hello~"
This time, Lily was jolted out of her frozen state, her mind still reeling from the familiarity of the voice. She responded softly, her voice barely above a whisper, laced with bewilderment, "Yes‽" She cleared her throat slightly and continued before he could reply, "There are too many missed calls from your number. May I know who you are and why you called me?" Lily tried her best to sound normal, like she was questioning a stranger, her tone measured and controlled but her heart racing with unknown anticipation.
A wide smile spread across Eli's face as he listened to the voice from the other end of the call, the warmth in his heart radiating through every inch of his being. How could he not identify the voice of the one he'd been waiting for, dreaming about, and longing to hear again for the past 15 years!! Relief washed through him like a soothing balm, calming the restless years of uncertainty and longing.
Now, as Lily waiting eagerly for his response, Eli spoke calmly, his tone mixed with warmth and sincerity, "I'm Elisha Allen. I heard your family saved my grandfather from an accident yesterday. The cops gave us your number, and I'm calling to extend our heartfelt gratitude."
A sudden realisation dawned on Lily when her mind reeled as she pieced together the events that had led to this moment. She didn't know whether to laugh or cry as she thought to herself, 'Fate was really cruel sometimes, sigh.' It was crazy to think that they were talking on the phone now because his grandfather had been in an accident, and her family had been the ones to save him. 'Isn't this coincidence usually called as Fate?' she felt gladness that his grandfather was okay. While she lost in her thoughts, Eli's voice came through again, breaking the silence, "Hello~, are you there?"
Lily snapped back to reality and replied, "Yes... I am listening." Her tone become softer as she continued "The accident just happened before us. So we did what we could. There's no need for any gratitude. My family was glad that your grandfather was fine."
On the other side, Eli's mind was racing, his thoughts turning to ways to see her as soon as possible and he swiftly came up with something and asked her in a persuasive tone, and his voice sounded so calm "My grandfather wants to meet your family to thank you all personally. He's still in the hospital, so he couldn't come to meet you himself. If you don't mind, would you and your family be able to come meet him once?"
Lily silently raised her eyebrow at his request, and her heart beating eagerly at the thought of seeing him "Well, Mr. Allen, we're not from the city, and my parents are already at work. How about this? I have some work in Lyra city today, and I should be free after work. If you don't mind, I'll meet your grandfather in the hospital then. ButI might arrive at late evening." She hesitated for a moment, unsure if he knew she was lily, did he too identified her voice? before adding, "Is that okay?"
Eli was calm on the surface as he agreed to her plan, "Yes, that's fine." Lily hummed in response, and the conversation seemed to end there. However.... However, It's been ten minutes, and they both still hadn't hung up the call. No, they weren't talking, but the call was still connected, and they were just listening to each other's silence, like it's a thread holding them together.
After Lily's hum, she didn't want to hang up the call, so she waited for him to respond or end it, but Eli didn't do either which made her heart beating a little faster with each passing moment, letting her realise he knew she was Lily. Eli didn't hung up because he was longing for her from many years, so he didn't want to cut off the connection he got even it's through the phone. But to his surprise, Lily didn't end the call immediately after their conversation, and she was still on the line with him.
A strange thought crossed his mind, 'Did she remember everything too?' Eli wanted to know the answer, his curiosity got the better of him and he broke the silence first, his voice gentle, carrying a hint of curiosity, "Do you know me?"
Unlike Eli, Lily could guess he was savouring her presence silently just like she was savouring his presence. When she finally heard him, she smiled wistfully at his question and leaned back into the couch, enveloped by a melancholic calm. "Nope.... I don't know you," she said, her voice carrying the weight of thoughtful reminiscence. She paused, collecting her thoughts, her words slow and measured as she uttered "I don't know how you look, I don't know your name before today, and I don't know all the details of your life. But...."
Her tone shifted, becoming softer, more introspective and much more slower than before. "But I know you knew me. I know whenever you thought of me, I know your voice which I've gotten used to hearing in my mind whenever you called my name silently or told me how many times you missed me. I know the times you lost yourself in pain while thinking of me. I know every little feeling you felt for me... and I know your physical pain, wherever you were hurt." She paused again, her voice laced with a quiet conviction. "So, maybe I could say I know your pain, longing, desparation, frustration, loneliness.... and the reason for them is me." A soft chuckle escaped her lips as she asked him "Now tell me, were those emotions I mentioned true or is it all just my insane imagination?"
Eli's eyes widened in stunned surprise, a whirlwind of emotions swirling inside him. He felt a rush of happiness knowing Lily didn't remember their painful past, yet somehow, someway, they'd been connected all these years. But beneath that, a pang of devastated sorrow merging when he thought of how she'd felt all the painful emotions through him. However, he shook his head to erase all the negative emotions before Lily could sense anything. He thought it's time to give her all the happiness she deserved.
Eli took a couple of minutes to process and composed himself, his exterior calm a stark contrast to the turmoil within. His voice, a gentle whisper in the silence, called out, "Lily?" The quiet murmur of her name seemed to heighten the intimacy of the moment between them, as if the air itself was charged with unspoken emotions.
Lily's skin tingled with a strange, electric spark as she heard her name, her heart skipping a beat. "Yes?" she replied, her voice a soft, breathy whisper. Her fingers instinctively tightened around the phone, as if trying to grasp onto the connection between them. Then Eli asked her in a low voice "How about we get married today?"
Lily was stunned and sat frozen in her position with her head leaned back on the couch and her eyes blankly staring at the ceiling as she trying to process what she'd just heard and her heart was racing like never before. The silence stretched out like a taut thread, until Eli's voice reached her ears again which barely above a whisper that sent tingles down her spine. "What do you say?"
Lily thought she'd die today from the tidal wave of tingles washing over her body, warmth spreading through her chest and from the bliss coursing through her veins. Unbeknownst to her, her eyes moistened, and a tear dropped onto her cheek. A radiant smile curved her lips, pressing her cheeks back into her face, making her eyes squint into crescents. Her ears turned crimson, and her face flushed with a soft rose hue.
If Eli could see her now, he might regret blurting out the proposal without witnessing her pure, unfiltered glow.
Lily felt like she was floating in a dream, and she didn't want it to end. However, A mischievous glint sparkled in her eyes as she responded to him, feigning arrogance, "Hmm... Where's your sincerity? Just because I know how you feel, you're taking advantage of me to propose, aah? What, you didn't find anyone else to flirt with this morning, so now you're flirting with me, aah?"
Lily could hear a low, husky chuckle escape from Eli, and she raised an eyebrow, humphed. "Hmph, I didn't expect Mr. Allen's grandson is a playboy." she added.
Eli's voice was calm, speaking to her in a gentle tone, "Be good, Lily. You have all the time to play tricks on me later." His tone shifted into a coaxing whisper as he continued, "Why don't you tell me your answer first?"
Lily wanted to play with him some more before accepting his proposal. But after listening to Eli, she melted a little before controlling herself, not wanting to fall fully into his sweet traps. She tried her best to sound playful, "How about you find me where I am? Maybe then I'll see whether you're sincere enough or not before I decide the answer."
On the other side, Eli sighed helplessly and asked her in a gentle way, "Won't you give me any clues?" Lily thought for a moment, a idea crossed her mind and a playful smile curved her lips as she shook her head, forgetting Eli couldn't see her, before replying, "No clues, but I'll wait for you at the place where you want us to be. Maybe I could suggest you... dress properly before you come."
Lily's words were a gentle tease, but her heart was racing with excitement, her entire being aching for him to find her, to make this moment real.
On the other side, Eli's face turned serious as he said, his voice sincere, his words laced with true intention. "Then wait for me. I'll show you the sincerity you want for our forever to be together."
A soft, determined smile spread across Lily's face as she said, "Then I want to see how sincere a stranger can show me to be with him forever." She glanced at the clock, its ticking the only sound in the sudden silence. "Good luck finding me," she added, her voice firm, before hanging up the call with a soft click.